Tories for Trump: Boris Johnson and John Redwood get excited

The Tory MPs spoke out as Trump appointed a ‘white nationalist’ to the second most influential job in the White House.

Evidence is mounting that Nigel Farage is not the only British politician to be excited about the rise of Donald Trump.

Rebel Tory backbencher Philip Davies shocked nobody earlier this year when he declared that he would vote for Trump “in a heartbeat” if he was an American. But now fellow Tory MPs John Redwood and Boris Johnson are also making favourable noises.

As he arrived in Brussels for today’s meeting of EU foreign ministers, Johnson enthused: “I think there is a lot to be positive about and it is very important not to prejudge the president-elect or his administration. It’s only a few days since the election has taken place. I think we all need to wait and see what they come up with. But I think we should regard it as a moment for opportunity.”

The foreign secretary added: “Donald Trump is a dealmaker and I think that could be a good thing for Britain, but it could also be a good thing for Europe and that I think is what we need to focus on today.”

The former Welsh secretary added: “If he puts through his tax cuts, gets the money back from off shore that those big companies have got, and really creates jobs and prosperity it could be good for the world. I think Mr Trump has some good ideas.

“Let’s not write somebody off before he’s even in office or even appointed his staff.”

It comes as Trump has named head of Breitbart News, Stephen K. Bannon, as his chief strategist.

America's Anti-Defamation League, which campaigns to fight anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, condemned the appointment, describing the alt-right movement supported by Breitbart News as "a loose-knit group of white nationalists, unabashed anti-Semites and racists".

John Weaver, a Republican political consultant who was John Kasich's chief strategist, tweeted: "The racist, fascist extreme right is represented footsteps from the Oval Office. Be very vigilant America."

And former Barack Obama adviser Dan Pfeiffer noted: "Nation exhales because white nationalist only gets second most influential job in White House."